RIP Ophelia Vanderkitten: Cat, Mascot, Icon

“She was a larger than life in spirit, and became a symbol for fit, inspirational women everywhere.”

Cycling's most beloved cat, Ophelia Vanderkitten, passed away on June 18 at the age of 16. The cuddly icon—and real-life inspiration for the Vanderkitten logo (above)—was not only a symbol of women’s cycling, but also the mascot of a team devoted to raising the bar for both pro and everyday female cyclists. She is survived by team founder Dave Verrecchia and his wife, Jennie.

“She never asked for fame or fortune, only to be loved and allowed the spot at the top of bed normally reserved for faces and breathing,” Verrechia says. “She was a willing celebrity, often making appearance on the dinner table at dinners and parties. Ophelia was a good friend, a marginal mouser and protector of all things that kick ass.”

Vanderkitten racer Elle Anderson said, “There's no question in my mind that cats as a species are tough fighters and survivalists, whether big, wild cats or small, domesticated cats. As a mascot, Ophelia represents that fight and survival instinct in life and in my racing.

“Part of the Vanderkitten logo shows a small chunk missing from one of Ophelia’s ears, representing a battle scar of her own. To me, this holds the most significance because it's our scars, both figurative and literal, that make us stronger and remind us to persevere. In bike racing we crash, get dropped from the group, and suffer through the toughest efforts. But we must pick ourselves up and keep fighting. I feel that Vanderkitten embodies that grit and character. I'm proud to represent all that Ophelia stands for, as the tough feline and as the brand mascot that inspires us to achieve the extraordinary.”

Team manager Jono Coulter fondly remembers the feline. “I knew about Ophelia Vanderkitten prior to coming to the USA from Australia in 2007," he says. "When I joined the Vanderkitten team in 2010, I got to meet Ophelia at the home of Dave and Jennie in Berkeley, California. She was a larger than life in spirit, and became a symbol for fit, inspirational women everywhere. I think it's symbolic that Ophelia waited to see the team record its first NRC win last week [Gillian Carleton's stage victory at the North Star Grand Prix] and was satisfied that her legacy would be carried forwards with a new generation of athletes."

In lieu of a memorial service, a Facebook post commemorating her passing encouraged athletes worldwide to “send tributes to the cat who started a revolution.”

We hope that Ophelia is enjoying a recovery snack of catnip in heaven.